Hey guys! Sorry it took me FOREVER to update this! I've had a lot going on with schoolwork and other stuff, but I finally got around to it. There will be one more chapter after this one and then this story will be done!

I am planning to finish this up before I update WDY. Hopefully, I get the final chapter up this week (that's my goal). I hope you guys enjoy and thank you, as always, for all the favorites, follows, and comments, they mean the world to me!

Regina was still reeling, her mind still trying to comprehend how it was possible, how her sister of all people was Marian.

Zelena had died.

She had seen the footage with her own eyes, she had lost yet another member of her family, another person in her life. While she definitely didn't have any love toward Zelena, she knew that if things had been different, she would've. Hell, she had even dared to hope that maybe, just maybe, Zelena would take a page out of her book and change. Then she could have the sister she'd always wanted. But Zelena had killed herself. But hadn't? She was confused. How was she going to explain this to Robin?

Robin.

How could she explain this to Robin? What if he thought she was making it up as a way to get him to forgive her for what she had done to Marian. She dropped her head in her hands. This was all so complicated.

Regina stood by Elsa at the edge of the forest waiting for the rest of the group to show up. She let out a small shudder as she felt the cold wash over her again. While she could warm herself up with magic, she liked how the bitter air helped clear her head. Her mind had been whirling nonstop with possible scenarios of how she could tell Robin. She didn't know what to do. How she could explain it without evoking some form of trust on his behalf. That trust in her must be gone.

It had to be gone.

"How did it go waking Marian up?" Elsa asked, "Did it go okay? You didn't come home last night."

Regina let out a sigh, "It went fine, she's up."

"What happened?" Elsa said concerned, picking up on the weariness in Regina's voice that meant something else had happened.

"I..I thought he knew. I didn't realize he didn't and oh gosh-"

"Knew what? Regina, just take a breath."

Regina closed her eyes tightly, trying to even out her breathing. She had thought he had known, or at least have put some of the pieces together, if not all of them. But he didn't and now- Regina caught herself before her mind went off, spiraling even deeper into this complicated mess. She opened her eyes and tilted her head up, avoiding Elsa's gaze, "Robin didn't know that I killed Marian. Before the whole time travel thing. I mean, I didn't even know that I had killed her." She let out a scoff, "What kind of monster does that make me? I don't even remember everyone I killed. And then it becomes even more complicated-" She broke off, shaking her head in disbelief at how complex and crazy everything had become.

"Regina, you're not a monster. You're a good person who did terrible things but you're making up for it."

"Am I? How can it be possible to make up for all of that? I hurt so many people. The amount of pain I caused to innocent people, to Robin, to Roland!" Her voice was borderline distraught now, "How does it not make me a monster if I hurt them like that? In such a deep, irrevocable way?"

Elsa reached out and grabbed her hands, "Look, Regina, you did terrible things, you were the Evil Queen. But you've also done good things, you've been a mother, a daughter, a lover, a sister, however brief that was. You've let a lot more define you. You have changed. You're a good person and I wouldn't want to call anyone else my friend."

Regina gave a weak smile, "I appreciate that."

It was a beat before Elsa spoke, her brows furrowed in contemplation, "You said it got more complicated."

"Yeah, well, I was curious about the color of Marian's heart. It was an odd shade of red. At first I thought it was a side effect from the ice spell but it was still like that after we removed the ice."

"Oh, a mystery!" Elsa said, her eyes brightening, "Did you figure it out?"

Regina nodded, adjusting her black leather gloves.

"Well?" Elsa prompted.

"I was looking through my books and found a page on colors of the heart and the symbolization behind it before- uh, before Robin came."

"What did you find?"

"Marian isn't Marian."

Elsa's brows furrowed as she cocked her head, "Then who is she?"

"My sister. Zelena."

If the situation hadn't been so devastatingly intertwined, Regina would've laughed at the wide-eyed expression of shock on Elsa's face.

"She's what? Isn't she supposed to be dead?"

"She is. I guess she tricked us all again."

"What are you going to do?"

"Honestly, I don't know. All I know is that it's probably best to get rid of the Snow Queen first."

Elsa hummed in thought, "Robin deserves to know soon."

"I know. But every time I think about telling him, I-I don't know how he could ever believe me."

"You wouldn't lie about something like that, Regina."

"Yes, I would've."

"In the past. You have changed, anyone can see it." Elsa said, placing a comforting hand on Regina's shoulder.

"What good does that do if Robin doesn't believe it." Regina murmured helplessly.

"Doesn't believe it? What do you mean?" Elsa's tone held a note of venom at the implication of Regina's words. Regina looked at the blonde, a little shocked at the tone.

"I mean he doesn't believe that I've changed. What else would I be talking about."

Elsa's eyes narrowed, "Tell me word-for-word what he said."

Regina let out a light scoff, "Elsa, don't get all defensive on my behalf. His anger toward me is well justified."

"I'll decide that for myself. What did he say?"

"Just that the Evil Queen is who I am and who I will always be." Regina said. She was quite proud at how strongly she delivered that line, the mental waver in her voice hadn't shown. She looked at Elsa, not wanting her to see how much those words had affected her and even more so, the fact that it had been Robin who had said it. His anger, his hurt and hatred toward her was justified, those words were justified even if they weren't true. Gosh, she hoped they weren't true. She really thought she had changed.

Could you even change after you did things like that?

"He's dead." Elsa said those words so matter-of-factly, devoid of the emotion Regina had expected that the words hadn't comprehended at first.

"Elsa, it's entirely- wait, what did you say?"

"I said, he is dead."

Regina let out a weak laugh, "Elsa, you can't kill him for that. I deserved-"

"Don't you dare say that you deserved it." Elsa glared at her and she fell silent once again. Footsteps could be heard crunching against the snow, Regina and Elsa looked at the group that had just arrived. Hook and Emma were walking side by side, Emma's expression set in firm determination. Grumpy and the other dwarfs trailed behind them, next to David and Mary Margaret. At the end of the party were the Merry Men, Robin among them. Along with Marian.

Regina looked warily at the brunette, knowing that everything about that woman was a lie. Mary Margaret had opened her mouth and was talking to the crowd, but Regina turned her out. There were only so many hope speeches one could hear and Regina wasn't feeling any semblance of hope right now. Not when Robin hated her and had justly yelled at her. But hearing those words, that utter lack of love and hope embedded there, replaced with anger, it hurt more than anything. To be viewed as a monster by someone she cared about. Someone so twisted that there was no possibility of hope. No room for change.

Regina didn't spare Robin a glance. She had seen the angry, hatred looks thrown her way so often for decades. It was easy to slip that face on Robin's in her mind. She had no desire to see it in person.

Her gaze caught Marian's. It was a mark to the years as the Evil Queen that Regina's expression remained impassive, betraying nothing. Marian's, or Zelena's, however, was the opposite. The brown eyes held a hint of sympathy and respect. If Regina looked closely enough, she swore she could discern a hint of sorrow and regret. The kind of expression that had no place being on Marian's face. The kind of expression that could only come from Zelena.

It was such a laughable thought that Regina would've utterly ignored had she not had years upon years of reading and analyzing people. It was a skill she had carefully refined. Regina shot one more glance in Marian's direction, that look was still there. If it had gone, she would've thrown that idea out of her mind in a second. She chalked up this desire to believe there was some redemption in her sister to the fact that she had always wanted a sister. But this was not the time nor the place to reflect on such selfish dreams.

Regina walked alongside Elsa for most of the journey through the snow coated forest. She had been flicking her magic between her fingertips for most of the way, letting her magic warm up just in case they needed it. Her eyes trailed mindlessly over the pine trees around her. She felt millions of miles away yet still very present. Almost as if the world had stopped turning for everyone except her. The trek to the ice palace wasn't long, and as the wind whistled past them and the air grew cold, turning Regina's cheeks pale. She let her magic trickle out to help her sense the air, on guard for a potential attack from the Snow Queen.

Mary Margaret led the group in the doors of the palace, clutching the letter from Gerda in her hand. Regina looked around warily, trailing behind to the back of the group so she could watch everyone in front of her, making sure they were safe. She felt a twinkle in the air, a sickly sweet feeling that clung all around them was growing stronger. The Snow Queen was approaching. Spreading her magic out to pinpoint where it was the strongest, Regina caught sight of the white gown and cleared her throat to draw the attention of the group. Her eyes narrowed in the direction of Ingrid, "Didn't your mother teach you that it's not polite to lurk in the shadows when you have guests?"

Ingrid stepped out from behind the column in a swift, graceful motion, "No, my mother never taught me much of anything. But I am certain it doesn't apply to unwelcome guests."

"Oh," Regina donned an innocent expression, "I suppose that's true. Although, I'm certain that a future queen would have plenty of practice in handling such imposing visitors."

"I did not."

"That's right," Regina said, tilting her head, "You spent most of your time in your room, how silly of me. I guess I assumed you picked up some housewarming traits from your sisters. But that didn't work out well, did it?" Regina said, her trademark smirk playing across her face.

Ingrid's tone had gone frosty, "Don't you dare talk about my sisters. You know nothing of what they were like."

Mary Margaret stepped forward, "I don't think you do either. We have a letter from Gerda that was found."

Ingrid's expression faltered for a split second before her defenses rose again, "I don't want to hear it."

"I think you might want to hear this." Mary Margaret unfolded the scroll and began reading.

Regina, tuning Mary Margaret's voice out, started drawing her magic up, ready to unleash the protective barrier she had been working on if Ingrid changed from her current contemplative mood. Studying the Snow Queen's face as she listened to her sister's last words, Regina could tell that their plan could work. Emotions flitted across the pale features, conflict visibly raging in Ingrid's eyes. Mary Margaret finished the letter and rolled it up, handing it over to Ingrid who stood motionless, her expression sorrowful.

"Here," Mary Margaret said, "See for yourself. Your sister really regretted what she did. She even included a memory stone to give everyone's memories back."

"I don't believe you." Ingrid said and her entire demeanor shifted. Her sorrowful appearance seemed to be an attempt to throw them off-guard and it might've worked if there wasn't a former Evil Queen in her midst, a Queen who had spent many, many years learning to read others in anticipation of their actions or to exploit their emotions. Ingrid's icy blasts were halted forcefully by the shield Regina had up in an instant.

"Wha-" Ingrid's shock at her failed attempt to catch them off guard was cut off by the various streams of magic and arrows headed her way, courtesy of Elsa, Emma, Mary Margaret, Robin, and Marian. Various yells that Regina could easily decipher as the dwarfs could be heard above the chaos that had started. Ingrid was on the defense, throwing up ice shields around herself in an effort to block the blows coming in on all sides. Regina held the protective shield up, not wanting to attack the Snow Queen and risk losing her grip on the barrier. The amount of magic needed to maintain it was draining her quickly considering she hadn't been constantly using her magic and her stamina was not where it once had been when she had reigned. Furthermore, the shield she had crafted was specifically catered toward the Snow Queen's magic, well, magic overall. Inside the barrier, magic-users could still cast spells past the invisible wall, but no magic could enter back in.

Regina could feel the sweat along her temple as Ingrid managed to gain the upper hand with a quick sweep of her hand toward the oncoming dwarfs and Merry Men where Robin and Marian were huddled, aiming arrow after arrow. They were all knocked back and Regina strained to force the barrier out further, engulfing them once again.

She muttered a curse under her breath, you would think that if there was a shield up to protect you, no matter how wired your brain was toward idiotic tendencies, you'd stay behind it.

With the pause of flying arrows, Ingrid was able to launch a counter-attack, one that was proving to no avail as Regina strengthened her shield. The constant blasts of magic were weakening it and Regina felt a sense of urgency creep up inside of her.

She had to keep everyone safe.

Reaching down, she drew out her innermost light magic, fueling it with the memories she had of Henry's childhood and the close moments they had shared recently, the love she received from her father and Daniel, even Mary Margaret. She let her mind wander through the good moments, her friendship with Tinkerbell, Elsa, and Emma, bedtime stories in the Enchanted Forest with Roland, the fireplace date with Robin, and kissing Robin.

Instantly, she felt the barrier reinforce itself and the effort it took out of her decreased. She looked around, needing to make sure that Robin was okay. She caught sight of him raising his crossbow again, he had seemingly just gotten up, Marian at his side.

But Marian was creeping forward, edging her way past the shield Regina had in place, an arrow notched in her bow pointed directly at the Snow Queen. Regina watched as Robin's eyes widened and he called out to Marian to come back, in the split second that it took Marian to look back at the sound of Robin's voice, Ingrid turned. Regina saw her eyes narrow and a hand appear, shooting a blast of ice straight at Marian's chest.

And Mari- Zelena hadn't noticed.

Regina wasn't sure what she was thinking, or rather, if she was thinking at all, but she sent a blast of magic against the barrier, reinforcing it best she could before transporting herself in a haze of purple smoke directly in front of Marian just in time to see that Marian had turned to face the incoming blast. She saw a flicker of green, then a red curl before she felt the ice hit her chest.

She was cold, Regina knew that, could feel the ice sink into her skin and hit her heart. The frost entered her bloodstream, traveling through her body so fast that it wasn't long before she felt herself start to blink slowly, the world tilting on its axis as she hit the ground, everything going fuzzy. She thought she heard faint shouts in the distance of Mary Margaret and Elsa.

It seemed like there was a faint, ghost-like hand on her body as she teetered on the edge of darkness. Her last thoughts were that she was glad to have gotten the chance to have redeemed herself. If she could sacrifice herself for a villain, maybe that meant she was a hero. Maybe that would prove to Zelena that despite everything that had happened between them, after everything Zelena had done to hurt her, that Regina, somewhere, still cared about her. Perhaps it was more the idea of having a sister than having it actually be Zelena, or maybe she saw too much of herself in the redhead to truly despise her sister. Her gaze met familiar blue orbs and she struggled to keep the open, wanting to look at those eyes just a moment longer, but they felt too heavy. As her eyes fluttered close, she sent out a prayer that Henry would forgive her for leaving him and let herself fall into the darkness.

Robin felt the blast of wind hit him in the chest, knocking him over, causing him to hit his head rather painfully. Groaning, he moved a hand up to rub the back of his head. The world spun as Robin's eyes blinked several times in the attempt to clear his vision. Once the smooth ice ceiling came into sharp view, he sat up slowly, wincing at the pain in his head.

He grabbed his crossbow and looked around at his wife and Merry Men who were slowly getting on their feet. He notched an arrow and got carefully to his feet. He saw brown curls move in front of him, briefly blocking his view of the Snow Queen. Marian was moving forward, out of the protective shield that had gone up right as the Snow Queen's attack had begun.

He knew it was Regina's doing and he had tried to suppress the feeling of awe and gratitude toward his former lover, his soulmate- no. He caught himself, soulmate or not, she had killed his wife. She was the cause of his years upon years of anger, pain, tears, and sorrow. She was the reason his son had grown up without a mother. As much as Robin knew, deep down, that she had changed, that she truly regretted how her past actions had hurt so many people, it was much easier to hold on to this anger.

It was so much easier to act like he hated the Queen than to face the fact that he still loved her even though she had murdered his wife. Easier to glare with daggers in his eyes than confusion at how she had killed Marian, but Marian was alive and in front of him, and if you could forgive a crime that had happened but ultimately hadn't. It was far simpler to build his fury against the raven-hair women that he thought he could love forever than to deal with the true conflict of his heart.

Yet, a part of Robin hated what he was doing, hated how he was causing Regina so much pain. But how could he betray his wife by forgiving her would-be murderer? Robin lifted his crossbow up and as he was aiming toward the Snow Queen, he realized that Marian was completely outside the shield.

Panic flooded his body, "Marian! Get back!"

His wife glanced back at him and he couldn't make out the expression in her brown eyes. A motion from behind her caught his attention and his eyes widened with fear as he saw a blast of ice headed directly for Marian. He started to run forward, his expression causing Marian to turn around as the shield protecting the rest of them rippled and a cloud of purple smoke appeared in front of his wife.

Fear like he had never known before cascaded throughout Robin's body.

He saw Regina appear in front of his wife, taking the blast for her, crumpling to the ground. Robin felt a phantom pain in his chest and he knew that it was because Regina had been hit, Regina was lying on the ground instead of his wife. But it wasn't his wife that he was hurrying toward anymore. It was Zelena. Robin didn't have time to process the brief shock that overtook him, his eyes firmly set on the body on the ground as he ran toward her.

He heard distant screams of Regina's name but it was as if the world had disappeared and all that was left was Regina's motionless body and his, racing to get to her. In an instant, he was on the ground beside her, his hands running over her body, as if his touch alone could save her. But as he lifted her head into his lap, he thought he saw the briefest flicker of recognition and warmth before her eyes closed.

Robin didn't know what he did next. He didn't know if he screamed, or who was screaming. He didn't know if he had shaken Regina's body, trying to get her to wake up. Or if he had scooped her up in his arms, rocking her back and forth, sobbing into her hair. Clinging to the last bit of warmth in her body, trying to will the life back into her. He didn't know if he did none of those things, or all of those things. The only thing he knew was that Regina's eyes had closed and he didn't think they were ever going to open again, and that was tearing him apart.

He thought he had known grief and pain when Marian had died, but that was nothing, that was just a scraped knee compared to this. The world had ended. There was nothing without Regina. He didn't even know why he had shouted at her, why he had said all those terrible, unforgivable, hurtful things to her, those words weren't even true. He hadn't meant them.

He didn't know why he hadn't talked to her today, told her what he knew he had already done since he had put the pieces together. He didn't know why he hadn't explained that he had already forgiven her and yes, it was messy and complicated, but nothing could ever shake his love for her. Not even hate. Because he did hate what she had done, he did hate that she had killed his wife. But he loved her too much to hold that against her. He didn't know why he had even chosen his wife over her anyway.

They had so much time that he had wasted.

Now she is gone.

Now, Robin didn't know how the world kept moving, how he was still breathing because certainly he would've died with her. He should've.

"Robin?" A rough hand was on his shoulder, "Robin, you have to let her go."

He shook his head, realizing that he was cradling Regina against him.

"Robin," A softer voice was next to him, "She's gone. There's nothing you can do."

Still, he shook his head, refusing to let her go. Letting go felt like giving up, like acceptance and he didn't want to do that. He didn't want to ever forget how her body, as motionless as it was now, felt like. He didn't want to forget the twinkle in her chocolate eyes as she teased him. Or the feel of her olive skin against his. He didn't want to forget the way her lips curved as she gave him her trademark smirk, or the lovely tenor of her voice he had long since memorized. He didn't want to forget the way her perfume lingered in the air, clinging to his clothes long since he had left and how the faint scent of apples and vanilla would always be able to relax him. He didn't want to forget the way she wrapped her arms around him and how he loved the small ways she showed her love.

He didn't want to let her go because letting go meant he would never get any of those things again.

Letting go meant she truly was gone.

"Robin," The soft, alto voice that belonged to Mary Margaret rang gently in his ears, "It's okay, you can let her go. It's over, you did exactly what she would've wanted."

Robin's gaze shifted up to meet Mary Margaret's eyes and within those hazel eyes, he knew that she understood what he was feeling.

She smiled gently, her eyes pooling with tears, "You didn't let her die alone."

Robin had to contain a sob at those words. The word 'die' should never be in the same sentence as Regina. She couldn't be gone.

"Robin," Mary Margaret said firmly this time, "You have to let her go."

"I-I can't." He said so quietly and so choked up that it was a wonder she heard him.

"Yes, you can."

He shook his head, "I can't leave her."

"She's not here anymore. You were with her as she left."

Robin felt the tears start sliding down his cheeks and he gathered Regina closer, pulling her against his chest, trying to ignore the coldness of her body and how she looked pale and lifeless. So unlike Regina at all who was vibrant, full of fire and witty remarks. Robin jumped as he felt a hand on his shoulder,

"Robin, let her go. Get up." Mary Margaret's voice was stern and he felt his grip on her weaken, "I-I loved her too." He could hear her voice break and he knew that she shared his pain, that she had moments where she hated Regina too, but the love won out, it would always win. He carefully set Regina down and stood up, pulling the former princess into a hug and they clung tightly to each other.

Both of them weeping at the loss of the women that was their world.

And now they had to live in one without her

A/N - Since I am not the OUAT writers and I sadly do not own any of these characters, Robin and Regina will get a happy ending. The show made us suffer enough and I have no desire to repeat that.